Round 24 Review – League One Men’s
An enticing round 24 of the FNSW League One Men’s season saw some big results across the grounds on Saturday night as we approach the final six weeks of the season.
The match of the round saw Bulls FC Academy and Bonnyrigg White Eagles face off while there was a big result for Dunbar Rovers at the bottom. Let’s get onto the review.
Match of the Round: Bulls FC Academy 2-1 Bonnyrigg White Eagles
Bulls FC Academy cemented their position atop of the competition for another week with a 2-1 victory over Bonnyrigg White Eagles at Valentine Sports Park.
Flynn Madden gave the academy side a two-goal lead at the break before a Stefan Nikolic goal brought the visitors back into it in a tense second half.
It was a fascinating tactical battle in the early stages with Bulls patient in possession while Bonnyrigg looked to get the ball forward quickly.
The visitors having the games first chance with a Daniel Bittar shot off target in the first minute. While Bulls FC Academy nearly opened their account a few minutes later.
A turnover from Bonnyrigg’s centre back allowing Flynn Madden to orchestrate an attack from the centre circle which saw a Michael Krslovic shot saved by Luke Turnbull down to his left.
Turnbull denying Krslovic once again before the 10th minute, a low shot from a second phase corner saved down to his right this time.
With conditions perhaps favouring the visitors, they nearly found the opener soon after. An attack down the left ending with Maksim Jez forcing a good save from Franklin Jan with his feet at close range.
The game then settling down into a pattern, with the next chance not coming till the 25th minute. A build up down the Bulls right once again resulting in a chance for Krslovic who was denied by a scrambling defence tracking back.
While a nervy moment at the other end nearly allowed Bonnyrigg the opener, a loose pass from centre midfield scrambled out for a corner. Mason Versi nearly capitalising with a volley which struck the crossbar from close range in the second phase.
That miss all the more costly a minute later, Bulls FC Academy launching an attack down the left which sent Krslovic through, his cross from the by-line palmed by Luke Turnbull into the path of Flynn Madden who tapped home from close range.
Madden then doubling his tally and the Bulls lead in the 37th minute. Receiving a ball from Dean Bosnjak before a couple of quick touches allowed him to create space for a left footed effort which rolled into the bottom right corner.
Bosnjak hitting the post before the half time break as the Bulls continued to threaten the visitors goal.
Two goals down, Bonnyrigg White Eagles needed something early in the second half and they found just that through a Stefan Nikolic goal. Nikolic finding room outside his marker on the left before rolling the ball into the far bottom corner to reduce the deficit to one after 47 minutes.
A noticeable step up in intensity seeing both sides exchange chances in the opening five minutes of the second half.
Bulls FC Academy goalkeeper Franklin Jan called into action midway through the second half with a double save to deny the visitors who continued to push.
While Flynn Madden nearly completed his hat-trick at the other end, his effort from just outside the bar hitting the inside of the right facing post minutes later.
Bonnyrigg were perhaps edging proceedings chance wise though and a deflected cross nearly gave them their second with seven minutes remaining. The resulting corner seeing Aaron Peterson head the ball down to a team mate who strayed offside.
The visitors having one final chance on goal shortly following that, Stefan Dubocanin forcing Jan into a save from long range before Peterson fired over the crossbar.
Bulls holding onto the victory which keeps them top for another week, while this defeat ends a three game winning streak for Bonnyrigg White Eagles who sit in ninth position with games to make up..
Bulls FC Academy 2 (Madden 33’ 37’)
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 1 (Nikolic 47’)
Elsewhere
Dunbar Rovers 3-1 Dulwich Hill
Dunbar Rovers threw open the battle to avoid relegation with a 3-1 victory over Dulwich Hill at Fraser Park, Saturday night.
A comprehensive first half performance saw them take a three-goal lead into the break with Dulwich Hill scoring a consolation in the second half.
Showing plenty of heart, the hosts came out firing with a one sided first half performance, Samuel Tzanakes scoring a first half brace, joined by new signing Mondo Kagami on the score sheet to make it 3-0 at the break.
From there, it was about game management for the hosts despite some nervy moments caused by a Mark Younes goal in the second half. A couple of late red cards for Dulwich Hill adding to their bad night with Daniel Fornito and Jamison Power seeing red late on.
Dunbar take on Rydalmere Lions midweek while Dulwich Hill next face Nepean FC.
Dunbar Rovers 3 (Tzanakes 2, Kagami)
Dulwich Hill 1 (Younes)
Canterbury Bankstown 0-2 Mt Druitt Town Rangers
Mt Druitt Town Rangers returned to winning ways with a 2-0 victory over Canterbury Bankstown at Jensen Park
An early goal set the tone for Andy Montgomery’s side before adding a second goal late to make sure of things.
The Town Rangers came out strongly for this one scoring from a 10-15 pass move in the opening stages. The move concluding with Charles Mendy finding Daniel Wong with a whipped cross.
Another crucial moment coming when Dylan Niski made a penalty save to deny Canterbury Bankstown an equaliser. Berries playing well despite not finding the back of the net throughout.
Berries having two shots go wide of the target in the second half from Sunny Chang and Yuto Shinagawa before the visitors found a second through Malcom Ward. Ward scoring after a mazy run from long range to make the points safe.
Mt Druitt Town Rangers still sit a point behind Bulls FC Academy while Canterbury Bankstown next face Bankstown City in the derby.
Canterbury Bankstown 0
Mt Druitt Town Rangers 2 (Wong 2’, Ward 83’)
Hakoah FC 4-0 Nepean FC
Hakoah FC kept their top two hopes alive with a 4-0 victory over struggling Nepean FC at Hensley Athletic.
Once again flipping the script they’ve followed for most of the season, they scored their goals early to take the points
It didn’t take long for them to open their account with a goal inside ten minutes. Cam Philpot the scorer from a set piece. A lead which was doubled after the half hour through Josh Fuchs. Fuchs on the end of a Paul Araullo through ball which split the defence.
Hakoah adding a third before half time through Phil Lapanaitis who crossed the ball which took a deflection into the top left corner.
With the three-goal lead, the second half was a more subdued affair between the two sides with Nepean showing some fight. A fourth goal from Hristopher Neskovski putting the game to bed.
Hakoah remain determined in their bid to catch the top two, while Nepean have dropped down to 16th after Dunbar’s win, next Friday’s clash with Dulwich Hill a big one in their bid to avoid the drop.
Hakoah FC 4 (Philpot 9’, Fuchs 32’, Lapanaitis 41’, Neskovski 75’)
Nepean FC 0
Macarthur Rams 2-4 UNSW FC
UNSW FC bounced back from back to back victories and extended the woes of Macarthur Rams with a 4-2 victory away from home.
The two sides exchanged goals in the first half going into halftime at 2-2 before UNSW aced the second half with two further goals.
They opened their account in the 13th minute through Jack Fulton before Jan Schmidt scored their second before the half hour. Those goals either side of Macarthur’s first via Emmanuel Gonzalez who went on to grab a brace.
UNSW scoring the pick of their goals in the second half, Jack Fulton turning provider with a long free-kick finding Jeremy Cox to finish for their third goal. Before Kevin Lopes fed Gabriel Lopez for the sealer with three minutes left.
Back on track, the win is UNSW’s tenth of the season as they look ahead to facing Mt Druitt Town Rangers next weekend. While Macarthur Rams host Rydalmere Lions next weekend.
Macarthur Rams 2 (Gonzalez 19’ 43’)
UNSW FC 4 (Fulton 13’, Schmidt 27’, Cox 69’, Lopez 87’)
Northern Tigers 4-2 Inter Lions
Northern Tigers continued their good run of form with a 4-2 victory over Inter Lions at North Turramurra Recreation Area.
The hosts overcame their visitors with a strong second half performance which took them out to a 4-1 lead before Inter Lions scored a consolation goal late.
Inter took the lead in this one Jordan Morfitis in the right place at the right time to finish off after Bodie Denton saved the initial shot.
Tigers equalised in the 34th minute when Olivier Beltran-Woodward closed down the Inter keeper before finishing into an empty net, with both sides having further chances in the first half.
The game changed however with a triple chance the hosts made at the break. Kai Denton in particular making an impact with his first ten minutes into the second half. Denton combining with Beltran-Woodward for both their second and third goal twenty minutes apart.
A fourth goal coming for the hosts with a 87th minute goal to Ethan Oliver after an Ally Brown volley before Inter got a consolation goal in injury time through Benjamin Morrison.
Northern Tigers 4 (Beltran-Woodward 35’ 87’, Denton 55’ 74’)
Inter Lions 2 (Morfitis 12’, Morrison 91’)
SD Raiders 5-0 Blacktown Spartans
SD Raiders pulled out a five-star first half to blow away Blacktown Spartans at Ernie Smith Reserve in Sydney’s South-West.
In a change to the norm for Goran Ljuboja’s side, they found the back of the net through four different goal scorers in the opening 45.
After a hard-fought opening ten minutes, SD Raiders then started applying significant pressure on their visitors. Opening their account in the 20th minute through a Noah Chianese goal who was found by Mihael Marcic with a cutback.
Noah Chianese returning the favour fifteen minutes later, Mihael Marcic the scorer of their second. Goals coming at a frequent rate in the closing stages of the first half, Charlie Ragg scoring the third before Jairo Torne Fernandez added their fourth from outside the area. Noah Chianese adding the fifth and final goal with a tap in injury time.
Spartans responding well after the break putting the Raiders under pressure for two-thirds of the second half. However the hosts were able to maintain the clean sheet.
SD Raiders 5 (Chianese 19’ 44’, Marcic 34’, Ragg 37’, Torne Fernandez 43’)
Blacktown Spartans 0
Rydalmere Lions 1-1 Bankstown City
Finally, Rydalmere Lions and Bankstown City shared the points in a close game between two sides at separate ends of the table.
Bankstown City opened the scoring in the first half before Rydalmere Lions pegged them back with a goal early in the second half.
After a taxing week with a midweek fixture, the visitors looked a bit flat throughout this one despite taking a lead late in the first half. Rhett Desilva with the assist from the right which Vlado Suput scored with a backheel on debut.
That lead lasting nine minutes into the second half before Rydalmere Lions equalised. Robert Eremugo unleashing a thunderbolt of a strike to bring things level.
Neither side able to find a winner, Rydalmere Lions take on Dunbar Rovers midweek while Canterbury Bankstown await Bankstown City next weekend.
Rydalmere Lions 1 (Suput 45’)
Bankstown City 1 (Eremugo 54’)
Round 17 Result: Northern Tigers 1-1 Bankstown City
By Justin Smith
